March 6 2025,
THE BIG IDEA
Hi all,
Happy Friday from SoCal, where we’re getting some rain.
In the newsletter:
- Texas hemp biz fights for survival
Hope you find it valuable,
Alex
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WHAT YOU MISSED IN WEEDWEEK
LAWMAKERS MUM ON PESTICIDE REFORM
Dozens of California lawmakers declined to answer questions from WeedWeek about whether the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is effectively regulating pesticide contamination in licensed product.
Most of the lawmakers contacted have been involved in cannabis legislation, and/or are on the business and professions committees which are holding a joint hearing March 11 on the “condition and health” of the industry.
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Related: Contamination fears drive push to remake state cannabis agency
LA Times
TEXAS HEMP INDUSTRY FIGHTS FOR SURVIVAL
In Texas, the hemp industry is pushing back on a proposed ban. Supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), the bill is widely expected to pass the state senate though passage in the state’s lower chamber is less certain.
Texas Tribune
Texas legalized consumable hemp in 2019 and its now sold at more than 8,000 locations around the state. Though products aren’t allowed to contain more than 0.3% THC, many of them seem to or contain other THC-related intoxicants.
At a hearing on the bill this week, one supporter said the industry had “exploited” the 2019 law he helped pass “to the point that it has endangered public health.”
- He now wants to “get the genie back in the bottle.”
The Texas Tribune reports:
“Mark Bordas, executive director of the Texas Hemp Business Council, said his group is “cautiously optimistic” that House lawmakers will forgo a ban and accept “thoughtful regulations” such as restricting THC products to Texans 21 and older, requiring tamper-proof packaging, and barring sales within a certain distance of schools.”
Related:
QUICK HITS
Federal:
- Longtime drug reform advocate Howard Woolridge said the White House invited him to submit a proposal on federal legalization.
Marijuana Moment - Ben Kovler, CEO of leading MSO Green Thumb Industries is bearish on federal reform.
- Trump’s tariffs could push up the cost of vape hardware imported from China.
GreenState
Business:
- CannabisRegulations.ai co-founder Joe Khoury argues cannabis will have to compete with big tech like DoorDash and UberEats, for consumer ownership. DoorDash now delivers hemp-derived products in the U.S.
- The co-founder of Colorado operator Native Roots sued his former business partner again in a long-running court battle.
MJBiz - MSO Planet 13 announced the recovery of further funds as part of its complex litigation involving financial firm El Capitan.
- Cookies founder Berner discusses how he flipped $19,000 into $100M.
@jointforcespodcast
State and local:
- A man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for killing a four-year old girl in a car accident when he was high on Delta-8 THC.
CBS - North Carolina Republicans may be more open to a MED bill this year, a prominent lawmaker said.
Marijuana Moment - A Missouri tax fight is heading to the state supreme court.
Law360 - New York state wants to claw back the $50M it contributed to a failed equity initiative.
NY Times - Ohio Republicans could cut the state’s equity program.
Columbus Dispatch - Connecticut companies don’t have to say when radiation is used on products.
CTInsider - Cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown takes a look at Maine’s Metrc-related investigation of its top regulator.
@boxbrown - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is proposing a significant pot tax hike.
New Jersey Monitor - The Idaho House passed a resolution that would block legalization via ballot initiative.
Idaho Capital Sun - Unlicensed shops are popping up in Virginia. But Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is expected to veto a bill that would allow REC sales.
Cardinal News, Washington Times
Equity:
- Grassland, a new film highlighting the injustice of incarceration for cannabis, comes out next month.
Fun and interesting:
- A venture capitalist wants to create sustainable, fair-trade MDMA. The fearless Michelle Lhooq investigates at DoubleBlind.
- A fight broke out at the Zalympix in LA.
@lmcxluc - CelebStoner posted on Anora, “the naughty best picture winner that could.“
CALIFORNIA HITS
State:
- The public health department seeks to readopt the public health emergency banning hemp-derived products.
- A report commissioned by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) takes a look at the state of the market. It determined that 60% of product consumed in state comes from the unlicensed market.
Cannabis Business Times - Local governments are losing their patience with odor issues at indoor and outdoor farms.
SFGate - Q4 sales hit their lowest point since Q1 2020.
San Joaquin Valley Sun - California distributed an additional $18M to support city and county social equity programs. It has already shelled out more than $100M in such grants.
Business:
- A broker is reviewing bids for the assets of Statehouse and High Times.
- Glass House announced it received a $50M loan at a fixed income rate of 8.58%, significantly lower than the rate paid for its previous loan. Corrected 3/10/25.
- Retailer The Artist Tree is looking to expand out of state.
Cannabis Business Times - Glass House also named former Ayr Wellness exec Jon DeCourcey, VP investor relations.
- Jeeter is the bestselling pre-roll brand in the country according to Hoodie Analytics. And that doesn’t include its THCA line.
GreenState - Longtime industry exec Evan Eneman is co-founder and CEO at Iconic Tonics, a new hemp-derived beverage company, in partnership with Snoop Dogg.
- Raw Garden introduced a “sprout” vape made from a plastic it says is a safer alternative to what’s now found in vapes.
Local:
- A judge certified a class action lawsuit against a Santa Barbara Co. farm for odors lowering neighbors property values.
Santa Barbara Independent - Oakland-based Root’d aims to open the first cannabis cafe in the Bay Area.
SFist
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